Endorsement Watch: Governor Scott & CFO Patronis Endorsed by Builders

Governor Rick Scott & Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis both received the endorsement of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida (ABC of Florida).

The separate endorsements were announced during ABC of Florida’s annual conference in Marco Island.

In endorsing Scott for the United States Senate, ABC touted his record of job growth during Scott’s two-terms in office.

“Construction is one of the top five economic drivers of Florida’s economy, and Governor Rick Scott has worked tirelessly over the past seven and a half years to support our industry by working to turn around our state’s economy, which has helped create more jobs, grow a booming housing market and welcome millions of new residents to our state,” said George Nash, ABC Chairman of the Board. “Associated Builders and Contractors and our 1,500 members are proud to offer our support of Governor Rick Scott’s campaign for U.S. Senate. We know he will continue the fight in Washington to create and sustain a business and regulatory environment that will result in a strong Florida economy and a growing workforce.”

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Governor Scott added, “In the last seven and a half years, we’ve reduced the tax burden on both small and large businesses, returned billions of dollars back to hardworking Florida families, and invested record amounts in transportation and infrastructure. We’ve also cut more than 5,200 burdensome regulations to get government out of the way so businesses can succeed. As a result of this hard work, we have seen more than 1.5 million new jobs created in our state, including growth in Florida’s construction industry – a major driver of Florida jobs. I appreciate ABC’s endorsement today, and as a U.S. Senator, I will continue to fight for policies to help all of our industries to thrive.”

In endorsing CFO Patronis the association said: “The Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida endorses CFO Jimmy Patronis as he seeks to continue serving the state of Florida. Our business community recognizes his commitment to continued economic expansion and promoting a strong business climate. CFO Patronis’ leadership is exemplified by his dedication to fostering a pro-growth environment, and our organization looks forward to working with him to build the best Florida possible for our membership,” said George Cuesta, of Cuesta Construction, and 2018 ABC chairman of the board.

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“It is an incredible honor to have the full support of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida as I seek another term as our state’s CFO. I believe that Florida must have a fair and predictable regulatory environment to ensure that businesses can grow and succeed. The industry represented by the ABC of Florida is a fantastic job creator for the state and together we will keep up the economic prosperity Florida has seen over the last seven years,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis of the endorsement.